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‘Turning NCR Land Into Oil Palm Plantations Good For Rural Devt’
‘Turning NCR Land Into Oil Palm Plantations Good For Rural Devt’
29/02/2016 (Borneo Post) - Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing said his ministry was lobbying for more federal funds to develop Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.
His ministry would continue to invite investors to invest in oil palm plantations on NCR land, in line with the government’s rural development and transformation programmes, he added.
He clarified his request was not at odds with the state policy because it would be on NCR land, not state land. He was referring to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s decision not to allocate any more state land for oil palm plantations.
In fact, Baleh assemblyman Masing said his request was part of Adenan’s ‘Go Rural’ policy.
“No, I am not at odds with CM Adenan on rural policy. In fact, we are on the same page. Both of us (Masing and Adenan) agree that planting oil palm on NCR land must continue as a means to eradicate rural poverty, and I will continue to encourage NCR land owners to do so.”
Masing, who is also PRS president, said he was prompted to issue this statement because Radio Free Sarawak was trying to put a wedge between him and Adenan by suggesting that their take on land development contradicted each other.
“I agree with CM that we should stop oil palms being planted on state land because this is a possible source of dispute between land owners and the state government. Whoever alleged that CM and my ministry are at odds on rural policy misunderstood our modus operandi on rural development, or merely politicising government policies based on ignorance.”
His ministry would continue to invite investors to invest in oil palm plantations on NCR land, in line with the government’s rural development and transformation programmes, he added.
He clarified his request was not at odds with the state policy because it would be on NCR land, not state land. He was referring to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s decision not to allocate any more state land for oil palm plantations.
In fact, Baleh assemblyman Masing said his request was part of Adenan’s ‘Go Rural’ policy.
“No, I am not at odds with CM Adenan on rural policy. In fact, we are on the same page. Both of us (Masing and Adenan) agree that planting oil palm on NCR land must continue as a means to eradicate rural poverty, and I will continue to encourage NCR land owners to do so.”
Masing, who is also PRS president, said he was prompted to issue this statement because Radio Free Sarawak was trying to put a wedge between him and Adenan by suggesting that their take on land development contradicted each other.
“I agree with CM that we should stop oil palms being planted on state land because this is a possible source of dispute between land owners and the state government. Whoever alleged that CM and my ministry are at odds on rural policy misunderstood our modus operandi on rural development, or merely politicising government policies based on ignorance.”